Metal fence-post



(No Model.)

T. J. THORP'.

METAL FENCE PUST.

No. 438,122. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

@R/644mm@ A @Mama/Lto@ STATESY THOMAS J. THORP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE P. GOODALE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METAL FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438, 122, dated October '7, 1890.

Original application filed May 7, 1890, Serial No. 350,887. Divided and this application led July 21, 1890. Serial No. 359,370. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. THoRP, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Fence- Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a metallic post suitable for fences and for other purposes; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on line fr of Fig. l. Fig. l is a partial section of a modification. Figs. 5 and 6 are details. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an ornamental flnial or cap piece.

Numeral l denotes an incomplete tube open upon one side thereof longitudinally and having preferably a gradually-decreasing diametertoward one end, which one will be the upper end, or directed toward the upper end of the post. This tube is made of metal, and preferably of sheet-steel, galvanized or otherwise protected from rust.

2 2 denote rings of diiferent sizes' adapted to slip over the top and down upon the body of the post. The location of the ring can be determined by its size, the open tube permitting some slight degree of compression, so that the exact location of any particular ring can be varied to some extent by compressing the tube more or less by driving the rings down thereon. It is fastened to the tube by a screw or other means. The ring is cast or otherwise formed with a re-entrant angle 3 of about ninety degrees, having angular depressions at 4 4, in which the edges of the tube are forced when the ring is driven down upon it.

5 5 are hooks, cast or otherwise secured in the angular portion 3 and shaped like hammer-claws, orsubstantially as indicated in the drawings, for the attachment of barbed or other fence-wire. Such wire can be secured to these hooks by a half-hitch, and will then be very securely held. The wire leading from the preceding post having been suitably stretched, is laid lengthwise between the two hooks of the irst pair at or near the outside thereof, and is passed partially around one of the other pair ofl hooks, and thence around the common stem or shank of the hooks and under the first pair, but over the wire between the two members thereof. This crossing of the wire over itself at right angles and under a pair of hooks avoids the sharp bend required by a single hook or cleat of usual form, and the wire is more securely held from slipping off the shank or stem if one or more of the hooks are broken.

I am aware that two-part hooks are not new, and such device is not of my invention.

6 denotes a plug, preferably made in skeleton form. It is provided with hooks 5 5, similar to the hooks on rings 2 2, and with a screwstem 7, which may be cast solid with the plug.

8 is an ornamental finial provided in its bottom with a screw-socket adapted to receive the threaded stem 7 of the plug 6.

14 is a heavy cap that may be placed teinporarily upon the post and secured thereon by screwing into a suitable socket therein the stem 7 of the plug G. It is intended to receive the impact of sledge-blows when the post is driven into the ground in suitable locations. Under many circumstances the tube driven into the ground will be sufficiently anchored; b ut when necessary or when special firmness and security is desired additional devices of any known character may be employed for giving greater stability. In situations where the lower sections cannot be driven into the ground it will be entirely practicable to secure the lower end thereof over and upon short posts attached to a horizontal frame or otherwise made stable, and other mechanical changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

The present application is a division of one filed by me May 7, 1890, and numbered 350,887, in which are described and claimed devices for coupling together sections similar'to the slotted tube herein set forth, and also means for supporting the bottom section or for driving it into the earth, all suitable for use in telegraph-poles, which matters are not claimed herein.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Y l. The postsection consisting of a partial tube having a longitudinal opening and provided with rings secured thereto having a reentrant angular portion fitting said opening, substantially as set forth.

2. The post-section consisting of a partial tube having a longitudinal opening and provided with rings secured thereto having a reentrant angular portion tting said opening and provided with external hooks supported in said angular portion, substantially as set forth.

3. In a post, in combination with a tube having a diameter diminishing toward its top, a ring of a diameter to fit the tube at a point between its ends, said ring being provided with a wire-fastening device having oppositely-arranged cleft hooks constituting two pairs, arranged back to back upon one stem or shank and adapted to receive a Wire between the members of one pairof hooks and around one of the other pair, thence around the stern under the first-named pair, and over the Wire between the hooks of said pair, substantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof l have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing Witnesses' THOMAS J. THoRP.

Witnesses:

A. L. SUNDERLAND, Y II. V. ARMSTRONG. 

